Advice from an Infectious Disease Physician on COVID-19: Act Like You Have It

By: Wouter Rietsema, MD - CVPH VP of Population Health & Information Services, Infectious Disease Specialist

As an Infectious Disease Physician and Hospital Administrator, over the past several weeks I have been touting the many ways people can help protect themselves from COVID-19 – hand-washing, avoid touching your face, social distancing.  And then it hit me.  A better way to look at stopping the spread of the virus is to act like yo[...]

Talking to Your Children about COVID-19

It feels like the COVID-19 virus has turned our world upside down. Schools are closed, leaving teachers across our region teaching their lessons in front of a computer or smartphone instead of a classroom. Restaurants are only offering take-out or delivery. There are even digital signs on the highway telling us to stay home. As a regio[...]

Everyone Plays a Part in Keeping Health System Strong

I was on the phone recently with my 28 year-old daughter who lives in the Boston area. I asked her what she was feeling down there related to novel coronavirus or COVID-19.  She said she thought that it seemed like people were going “over the top” with responses. They had just closed the schools in her town after a single confir[...]

Building a Foundation for Less Stress and Good Health

In our society when we think about stress we think of the big stuff—the large, life-altering incidents that turn our lives upside down. But stress can come at us from every angle during even the most routine parts of our daily lives. Of course, a house fire, a car accident or a devastating medical diagnosis for ourselves or a family member[...]

4 Ways to Keep Your Heart Healthy – Beyond Heart Month

It’s American Heart Month! We want to share four ways to keep you heart, mind, and body happy and healthy. The combination of eating right, working out, relieving stress and educating yourself– can help keep your heart pumping for years to come. Make sure to visit the American Heart Associatio[...]

Heart Attack and Exertion: Protect Yourself this Winter

Winter is always an exciting time for those who love to ski, snowboard, or even to just play in the snow! Unfortunately, winter is also a time where your heart health can be put at risk if you aren’t aware of the health risks associated with colder weather, which can lead to a heart attack. We want to keep our friends and fa[...]

Mediterranean Diet: A Heart-Healthy Eating Plan

The Mediterranean diet was named the Best Diet Overall for 2019 by U.S. News. While this diet has landed at the top of the charts, it certainly isn’t anything new — it’s been around since the 1960s and is best known for its health benefits: lon[...]

Home Remedies That May Help You Feel Better When You Have the Flu

An article from the UVM Health Network 2020 Flu Education series

With Sarah Spengler, RN, UVM Health Network - Home Health & Hospice There are many traditional and non-traditional home remedies people use to feel better when they’re sick. Home remedies won’t shorten the duration of flu, but can make you more comfortable as the illness runs its course. See below for a few you[...]

Flu Season Has Arrived!

An article from the UVM Health Network 2020 Flu Education series

With Cindy Dion Noyes, MD, University of Vermont Health Network Medical Group UVM Medical Center Infectious Disease Influenza has arrived in our region and is considered to be widespread at this time. This means that at least half of the regions in the state of VT and NY are reporting laboratory confirmed influenza (usu[...]

Pro tips to avoid the flu

An article from the UVM Health Network 2019 Flu Education series

With Meredith King, RN, BSN and infection prevention coordinator at University of Vermont Health Network – Elizabethtown Community Hospital Health care workers are on the front lines during flu season. But we don’t follow any secret formula to avoid getting sick. In fact, our go-to ways of avoidi[...]